First-Class Mail® Forever Stamps (2024)

FAQs

How do I know if a forever stamp is enough? ›

As the name suggests, Forever Stamps can be used to mail a one-ounce letter regardless of when the stamps are purchased or used and no matter how prices may change in the future. Forever Stamps are always sold at the same price as a regular First-Class Mail stamp.

If your letter is a standard-sized envelope and weighs 3.5 ounces or less, you will need one stamp. Large envelopes. This includes 9x12, legal, and manila envelopes, Two stamps are needed for the first ounce, and postage will be an additional $0.20 cents after.

Can I still use Forever stamps? Yes, you can still use any Forever stamp.

For any domestic mail piece that weighs more than one ounce, you must include additional postage along with your Forever stamp to ensure USPS delivery. Also, you may purchase higher denomination postage stamps for heavier postage at the Post Office™. Avoid placing two Forever stamps on a mail piece for heavier mail.

Customers must affix additional postage when mailing letters weighing in excess of 1 ounce and/or letters subject to the nonmachinable surcharge or mailpieces subject to another rate of postage (e.g., large envelopes or packages).

First-Class Mail Forever^® stamps cost $0.73 (the current 1 oz price) and will never expire, even if the First-Class^™ postage rate goes up. To send packages, see USPS Ground Advantage^® service.

A large envelope, known to the postal service as a large letter, is a maximum size of 353mm by 250mm by 25mm. The number of postage stamps required depends on the weight of the item you are sending: 0 – 100g: Two first-class or second-class stamps. 101 – 250g: Two first-class or three second-class stamps.

Forever stamps never expire and are able to be used on any 1 oz. letter at any time, no matter the current price of Forever Stamps. How many Forever stamps do I need to use? One Forever Stamp is enough for a 1 oz.

Regular stamps without a barcode* are no longer valid for postage. This follows the introduction of a 6 month grace period from the initial 31 January 2023 deadline. Swap them for the new barcoded ones. The stamps that have changed are the stamps (pictured below) that will be very familiar to you.

Which first-class stamps are no longer valid? ›

Stamps are changing

From 31 July, 2023, you won't be able to use stamps which don't have a barcode on. But no need to panic. You can use non-barcoded stamps until 31 July 2023. Royal Mail has also introduced the Stamp Swap Out Scheme so you can swap all your non-barcoded stamps for the new barcoded ones.

As mentioned above, postal stamps do not expire and can be used indefinitely. In the event of a price increase, customers can purchase Denomination Stamps to make up the price for postage or use Forever Stamps.

This means that if you want to send a single ounce letter you'll only have to attach one Forever Stamp and you are good to go. As soon as that letter tips the scales at 1.1 ounce (all the way up to 2.0 ounces) you're looking at an extra $0.20 and postage that you have to cover.

TIP: As a rule of thumb, you can send 1 oz (4 sheets of printer paper and a business-sized envelope) for 1 First-Class Mail^® Forever^® stamp (currently $0.73). The postage for a large envelope (or flat) starts at $1.50 for 1 oz.

USPS stamp prices are about to go up (again) in 2024: Here's when, how much. (NEXSTAR) – Need some more stamps? You may want to stock up before postage prices rise for the second time this year. Starting July 14, a First-Class Forever stamp is set to go from 68 cents to 73 cents.

It's essential to check the current rates either online or at your local post office. The current price of a standard First-Class Mail stamp in the U.S. is 55 cents, but this could have changed. To calculate how many stamps you need, take the total postage cost and divide it by the cost of a single stamp.

The maximum dimensions of an envelope you can send with a standard first class stamp is 240mm x 165mm. Larger than this and postage rate will increase to large letter or parcel rate.

This means that if you want to send a single ounce letter you'll only have to attach one Forever Stamp and you are good to go. As soon as that letter tips the scales at 1.1 ounce (all the way up to 2.0 ounces) you're looking at an extra $0.20 and postage that you have to cover.